Yes, it was all choreographed to perfection beginning with the “RE2PECT” commercial running on FOX once the top of the first inning ended. Then, at Target Field, having the introduction of Jeter by the late Bob Sheppard was a wonderful touch. The standing ovation from the fans, the tipping of his helmet to the crowd, the requisite camera shots of Jeter’s parents in the stands, the applause by the all the National League starters on the field, the silence on the FOX broadcast so we could all absorb the moment, even the chance to hear Jeter telling Jonathan Lucroy “have a good one and congratulations to you, all right?” as the crowd begins to chant “Der-ek Je-ter” — top notch, of course, because that’s the way it was all supposed to be.

The first pitch from Wainwright, still silence from Joe Buck and the crew, the crowd settles down. Another requisite shot of Jeter’s family and then, through the silence, one man’s voice rings out …

“Over-rated.”

He says it again, loudly and more clearly, as the second pitch is delivered. That of course was the pitch Jeter hit into the right field corner for his lead-off double, though you won’t hear that man’s chant on this video of the at-bat posted at MLB.com. No, there’s just silence there until Joe Buck exclaims “Into right! What a start!” as Jeter makes his way to second. But I recorded the game since I didn’t get home until just before the actual on-field action began, so I had the chance to rewind the DVR and watch the moment again, both last night and this morning.

And that moment — the voice who rose above all the scripted and prepared adulation — was perfect. Honest. Which is not ever what happens in these kinds of orchestrated productions.

We all did. We know the drill, know the routine. We just went through it at last year’s All-Star Game with Mariano Rivera.

Which is why the Over-Rated Chant Guy was so refreshing.

And, actually, my personal favorite Derek Jeter moment last night came in the top of the first inning, not the bottom.

It was Andrew McCutchen’s at-bat to lead off the game, when he grounded the second pitch he saw from Felix Hernandez to short. Jeter dove to his left to stop the ball, quickly got up and threw to Miguel Cabrera at first as Cutch ran full-speed down the first base line — and, as we’ve seen countless times against the Cardinals, Cutch at full-speed is pretty damn fast. See the whole thing again here.

He was safe.

Jeter smiled. Cutch grinned, and pointed over at Jeter.

Isn’t that a better tribute than anything else produced throughout the course of the evening?

And isn’t that — theoretically, obviously, and not reality anymore — what the All-Star Game really should be about: the best against the best, and truly giving their best effort? Especially since the game counts, after all …

It’s the unpredictability of baseball that I love the most, and in all likelihood what you love too. Which means, despite FOX and MLB’s best efforts, not everything can be scripted.

1 thought on “Sometimes, The Greatest Moments Are Unscripted”

The last 4 years: LaRussa won a World Series and an All Star Game. Matheney lost a World Series and an All Star Game. His decisions last night mirrored his season mistakes. Go with his favorites, leave a pitcher in too long or short, make everybody happy (veterans). Lack of urgency, double switches. You could give him a World Series Champ and he would screw it up. Give him the best All Star team ever and lose. He’s ruining what should be THE golden era of Cardinal baseball.